Chelios might be replaced by Lilja for Game 6; Hudler takes Samuelsson's spot on second line

Update from the morning skate: Wings coach Mike Babcock said the status of defenseman Chris Chelios will be determined at game time. He said Chelios is bothered by a leg injury and might be replaced by Andreas Lilja for Game 6 in Dallas tonight. Chelios skated Monday with Derek Meech, while Lilja skated with Brett Lebda.

"That's not for sure,'' Babcock said. "Chelios' leg wasn't doing very good. That will be a game-time decision.''

Jiri Hudler has replaced Mikael Samuelsson on the second line, which has not scored in the last four games. Hudler has two goals in the last three games. Samuelsson moves to the third line, with Kris Draper and Dallas Drake, and Kirk Maltby moves to the fourth line, with Darren Helm and Darren McCarty.

"I thought Draper and Dallas Drake did a good job on the forecheck, turned a lot of pucks over,'' Babcock said. "Maltby is on that line. Not quite as dangerous as a guy like Sammy, who really shoots the puck. It gives my other group, with Maltby and Helm, two real good skaters, and McCarty.

"On the road, matchups aren't as easy to get. Especially if it's as hot as I perceive it's going to be here today. I want to have four groups at 40 seconds apiece, not three groups at 60 seconds apiece.''

Babcock also indicated that he might split Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Datsyuk skated with Tomas Holmstrom and Hudler, while Zetterberg skated with Dan Cleary and Mark Hartigan, who was subbing for Valtteri Filppula. Filppula hasn't practiced much the last couple of weeks because of a knee injury but he will play tonight.

"We've gone both ways,'' Babcock said. "I'm kind of a big believer that good, good players like that, they haven't scored in a couple games, they're due.''

Also, Wings general manager Ken Holland said there is no news on Johan Franzen's status. Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) didn't travel with the team. He hasn't skated in 10 days. Holland said he's not sure if Franzen would need to get a practice or two under his belt before playing, after he is cleared to return to the ice.

For the Stars, forwards Jere Lehtinen and Stu Barnes remain out. Coach Dave Tippett said defenseman Philippe Boucher is getting closer to returning. The Stars might insert Boucher and go with seven defensemen, since they've basically been using three forward lines the last two games.

There is no official word on when the Stanley Cup finals will begin. Saturday would seem the most likely start, regardless if this series ends tonight or goes seven games. But league officials have not ruled out the possibility, at least publicly, of starting on Thursday, if the Wings win tonight. In any event, the latest the finals will start is Saturday.